Man walks through fire for dog

Published: Wednesday, January 30, 2013 at 01:58 PM.

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Bobby Whisnant woke up Wednesday in a state of confusion. His dog’s barking combined with the beeping of smoke detectors jarred him.

Whisnant jumped to his feet and opened his bedroom door.

“A ball of flames hit me in the face,” he said. “I fell to the ground.”

Whisnant called out for his roommate but got no answer. Just as he started for the window to escape, Whisnant heard his dog bark again.

Rather than climb out the window, Whisnant said he ran through the flames, grabbed his dog, Spike, and exited the house.

To Whisnant, the 5-year-old Boston terrier is like his son. He couldn’t leave him to burn in the fire.

Fire broke out in the home at 6724 Dallas/Cherryville Highway around 8:30 a.m. Wednesday. Whisnant’s roommate, Richard Auten, left for a doctor’s appointment around 8. When he returned, his house was burning. The two men stared as firefighters worked to extinguish the blaze, Whisnant with singed hair, wearing pajamas.

Bobby Whisnant woke up Wednesday in a state of confusion. His dog’s barking combined with the beeping of smoke detectors jarred him.

Whisnant jumped to his feet and opened his bedroom door.

“A ball of flames hit me in the face,” he said. “I fell to the ground.”

Whisnant called out for his roommate but got no answer. Just as he started for the window to escape, Whisnant heard his dog bark again.

Rather than climb out the window, Whisnant said he ran through the flames, grabbed his dog, Spike, and exited the house.

To Whisnant, the 5-year-old Boston terrier is like his son. He couldn’t leave him to burn in the fire.

Fire broke out in the home at 6724 Dallas/Cherryville Highway around 8:30 a.m. Wednesday. Whisnant’s roommate, Richard Auten, left for a doctor’s appointment around 8. When he returned, his house was burning. The two men stared as firefighters worked to extinguish the blaze, Whisnant with singed hair, wearing pajamas.

Firefighters from Tryonata Volunteer Fire Department extinguished the flames with the help of Hugh’s Pond and Ag Center fire departments.

No one was injured.

Deputy Fire Marshal Alan Middleton said he hasn’t yet determined the cause of the fire but ruled it accidental.

Whisnant and Auten rented the home. They did not have insurance.

Whisnant said he has family who can put him up temporarily, but he didn’t know where Auten would stay.

Before clearing the scene, the fire marshal told the men to keep an eye on the house. The gusty wind could reignite the fire, Middleton said.

You can reach reporter Diane Turbyfill at 704-869-1817 and twitter.com/GazetteDiane.